HighlandSniper58
20-04-04, 17:06
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Latest Royal Navy Recruit
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Source: Royal Navy
Caspar the dog is the Royal Navy’s latest recruit - a special agent with a real mission. The Springer Spaniel is trained to search out drugs in the fight against international trafficking of illegal narcotics in the Caribbean.
The Navy’s Type 23 frigate, HMS Monmouth, has given Caspar a major role in assisting its boarding teams during searches of large ships. Traffickers can use the vast number of compartments on board in which to hide huge hauls of drugs.
Casper had his first operational boarding on Tuesday 13 April when HMS Monmouth investigated a fishing vessel in the Eastern Caribbean. Although only a small quantity of cocaine was found, Caspar demonstrated his unique ability.
For many years, Her Majesty’s Royal Navy warships have had carried mascots and pets, but none have earned their keep so well as Caspar.
The dog, member of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps was trained at the Defence Animal Centre in Melton Mowbray. His handler, Corporal Daniel Fiddy, has been an Army Dog Handler for five years, working in Bosnia, Poland, Northern Ireland, and Germany.
He has trained Caspar around the upper deck everyday and the dog has its own kennel in the Officer’s accommodation – Caspar even has his own life jacket. From the flight deck of the ship, Cpl Fiddy explained how Caspar is so vital to the ship.
“It’s like a sixth sense. He knows exactly how the drugs traffickers think. He homes in on exactly where the drugs are hidden, seeming to know the workings of their mind in hiding the drugs in the most inaccessible of places”, said Cpl Fiddy.
“In Caspar’s first operation it wasn’t a vast haul of drugs that was found – but the entire ship’s company is extremely proud of him. A man’s best friend his dog, they say – and when you’ve Caspar around you’re pretty sure something’s going to be found.
“When we’re homing in on a suspect ship Caspar keeps an eagle eye from the gun deck, eager to get out there and do his job.
“It’s a dangerous job we all do because you never know if there’s a trap waiting for you, hidden explosives as a booby trap or a gang of gunmen protecting the drugs haul. We take all the necessary precautions and Caspar is worth his weight in gold”.
Cpl Fiddy said Caspar certainly enjoys his food after an operation. You can see he’s working on the adrenalin, just like all of us”.
Latest Royal Navy Recruit
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Source: Royal Navy
Caspar the dog is the Royal Navy’s latest recruit - a special agent with a real mission. The Springer Spaniel is trained to search out drugs in the fight against international trafficking of illegal narcotics in the Caribbean.
The Navy’s Type 23 frigate, HMS Monmouth, has given Caspar a major role in assisting its boarding teams during searches of large ships. Traffickers can use the vast number of compartments on board in which to hide huge hauls of drugs.
Casper had his first operational boarding on Tuesday 13 April when HMS Monmouth investigated a fishing vessel in the Eastern Caribbean. Although only a small quantity of cocaine was found, Caspar demonstrated his unique ability.
For many years, Her Majesty’s Royal Navy warships have had carried mascots and pets, but none have earned their keep so well as Caspar.
The dog, member of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps was trained at the Defence Animal Centre in Melton Mowbray. His handler, Corporal Daniel Fiddy, has been an Army Dog Handler for five years, working in Bosnia, Poland, Northern Ireland, and Germany.
He has trained Caspar around the upper deck everyday and the dog has its own kennel in the Officer’s accommodation – Caspar even has his own life jacket. From the flight deck of the ship, Cpl Fiddy explained how Caspar is so vital to the ship.
“It’s like a sixth sense. He knows exactly how the drugs traffickers think. He homes in on exactly where the drugs are hidden, seeming to know the workings of their mind in hiding the drugs in the most inaccessible of places”, said Cpl Fiddy.
“In Caspar’s first operation it wasn’t a vast haul of drugs that was found – but the entire ship’s company is extremely proud of him. A man’s best friend his dog, they say – and when you’ve Caspar around you’re pretty sure something’s going to be found.
“When we’re homing in on a suspect ship Caspar keeps an eagle eye from the gun deck, eager to get out there and do his job.
“It’s a dangerous job we all do because you never know if there’s a trap waiting for you, hidden explosives as a booby trap or a gang of gunmen protecting the drugs haul. We take all the necessary precautions and Caspar is worth his weight in gold”.
Cpl Fiddy said Caspar certainly enjoys his food after an operation. You can see he’s working on the adrenalin, just like all of us”.